WBA 175-pound champion Dmitry Bivol has agreed to a bout with IBF/WBC/WBO champion Artur Beterbiev for the unified light heavyweight title in Saudi Arabia in 2024.
Ever since his victory over Canelo Alvarez last year, Dmitry has been vocal about his desire to compete for the undisputed championship, and Beterbiev is close to making that aspiration a reality pending the outcome of his next fight.
Bivol ready, Beterbiev test looming
However, for the fight to materialize, 39-year-old Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KOs) must face WBC mandatory number one Callum Smith (29-1) on January 13th at the Center Videotron in Quebec, and prevail. If Beterbiev loses the match, a clash with Bivol may not happen.
This bout poses a significant challenge for Beterbiev, as the 6-foot-4 Smith is currently in the prime of his career and appears motivated and physically strong. If Smith performs as impressively as he has since moving up to 175 in 2021, the contest will be more competitive, given Beterbiev’s altered state since his time at the 2012 Olympics, where he arguably defeated Oleksandr Usyk. He is anticipated to secure a knockout victory.
Dan Raphael has discussed Bivol’s reported signing of part of a contract with undisputed champion Beterbiev. The next step is for Beterbiev to fulfill his part in making the fight a reality.
Will that vision fade as we get older?
The much-anticipated clash between Beterbiev and Bivol has been a widely discussed topic for the past six years. It is regrettable that it has taken this long, as the showdown would have made more sense if it had occurred when Beterbiev was younger.
Beterbiev’s performance has slowed over the past two years, struggling to land as many powerful shots as before. Should a fight with Bivol materialize, Beterbiev would encounter difficulty facing a younger, quicker opponent who excels at boxing and taking risks.
As Beterbiev nears 40, the response to Bivol’s victory over him by fans is a point of interest. Casual fans unaware of Beterbiev’s age or the late stage in his career when this fight happens might be impressed. However, hardcore fans will perceive this as a contest that has been postponed for far too long.
The long-awaited Beterbiev vs. Bivol bout is now in the same category as Anthony Joshua vs. Deontay Wilder and AJ vs. Tyson Fury. These matches should have occurred years ago, and now, in their mid-30s, the fighters appear past their prime and victorious solely due to shrewd matchmaking by calculating promoters.
Last Saturday night, Dec. 23, on the “Day of Reckoning” card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Bivol achieved a 12-round unanimous decision victory over challenger Lyndon Arthur.
Callum Smith: An unexpected wildcard
There is no confirmation yet if Saudi Arabia is interested in hosting a Bivol vs. Callum Smith fight in 2024 for the undisputed 175-pound title.
Callum, 33, is relatively unknown in the United States, with boxing enthusiasts recalling his lackluster performance and contentious loss to Canelo Alvarez in 2020. As a result, the matchup is unlikely to draw interest from American fans. In 2019, he defeated John Ryder.
In both matches, Callum faltered under pressure, taking a defensive stance against aggressive opponents. This revealed his discomfort with facing rivals who can counterpunch effectively.
If one considers Beterbiev’s struggle in his recent bout against Anthony Yarde last January, Bivol stands a chance of securing a victory if he can withstand the mental pressure posed by a formidable opponent from Russia. Beterbiev displayed sluggishness in that fight and did not resemble the champion he was in 2017.
